Diana Kamal Scholarship Search Fund (DKSSF)

Program Summary

The Diana Kamal Scholarship Search Fund (DKSSF) makes the dream of study in the United States possible for highly qualified Arab students from underserved populations in the Middle East and North Africa. Through this initiative, AMIDEAST is able to identify students of exceptional accomplishment and promise who wish to pursue undergraduate study at an American college or university, but cannot afford to do so. The resources in this special fund then enable AMIDEAST to provide the services that assist several candidates each year to apply and qualify for four-year scholarships to select U.S. institutions of higher learning.

To date, the DKSSF has matched 75 deserving young men and women from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, and Yemen with scholarships at colleges and universities across the United States.

The DKSSF was established in 2006 in memory of AMIDEAST Senior Vice President Diana Kamal, a recognized leader in the field of international educational exchange and an individual with a lifelong commitment to improving understanding between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.

AMIDEAST’s Role

Administer an extensive region-wide search through AMIDEAST country offices, EducationUSA centers, and other networks to identify applicants of exceptional accomplishment and promise

Provide a full range of services, including academic advising English-language enrichment, testing services, and travel expenses, for up to two years to assist scholars through the lengthy, and often complicated, testing and application process

Work directly with U.S. institutions of higher education, students, and families to match scholars to select American colleges or universities willing to provide scholarship resources to fund candidates’ completion of four-year undergraduate degree programs in the United States

Main Goals

Provide academic opportunities to outstanding Arab youth

Enrich U.S. college campuses: DKSSF scholars bring experiences and insights, enhancing college communities and contributing to the intellectual dialogue at host institutions

Further AMIDEAST’s mission of strengthening mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the region

To Apply

The DKSSF is currently offered in seven countries: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, and Yemen. For information about the DKSSF in these countries, please visit the AMIDEAST country page for your country using the menu at the bottom of this page.

Until May 2015, the DKSSF was also offered for students from the West Bank and Gaza. Palestinian students should instead apply via the Hope Fund Program, a program that expands higher educational opportunity for Palestinian students that is very similar to the DKSSF. For more information, please click here.

Participating Institutions

More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities have generously supported the DKSSF and its mission of expanding educational opportunity for bright, underserved Arab youth: